Clothes-pounder



,BUP Wo` 0D... PS ..0 Gh t RM C ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITMOGRAPH UNITED STATES FRANCIS G. POWERS, OF MOWEAQUA, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLOTH ES-POUNDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,800, dated October 26, 1880.

v Application tiled August 16, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, FnANcrs G. PowERs, of Moweaqua, in the county of Shelby and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Clothes-Founder 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of my invention is an improvementin the class of atmospheric clothes-pounders-that is to say,pounders which are constructed with one or more chambers or cavities in which the airis alternately compressed and allowed to expand at each reciprocation.

The chief qualities which such pounders should possess are maximum strength and lightness of structure combined with capability for allowing the passage of air with the greatest facility, so that they will be very durable and may be easily operated.

To these ends I have adopted the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of my improved pounder. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line x Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pounder inverted.

The bodyA of the pounder is preferably constructed of copper, and has a bell or bowl like shape. The solid wooden handle B is detachable, being united to the tubular metal portion C by a screw-joint, a. As shown in the drawings, the part C is made of two sections, whose telescoped ends are soldered together. The tube thus formed extends down into the body A, and contiguous to the upper side of the same is provided with an enlargement, b, which subserves two purposes-to wit, an airchamber and a brace-for, in respect to the latter function, it will be noted the enlarge- "ment rests on and is firmly soldered to the body A.

The tube C has four vertical rows of perforations, c, in the portion that projects into the body A, while holes d of greater individual or aggregate capacity are formed in the portion above the body. Just below the holes d is located a perforated diaphragm, constituting a valve seat, D, to which a nap-valve, E, is hinged, so as to open downward.

The valve is preferably constructed of brass for sake of durability; but flexible material may be employed.

Wvithin the body A are four plates, F, which are arranged radially to the tubes C. They are straight on the inner edge, which is soldered to the tube O, and curved on the longer outer edge corresponding to the contour of the upper portion of the body A, to which they are also soldered. Their lower edges are inclined downward and outward. These plates form the strongest braces or supports for the tube and body of the pounder that can be employed consistently with due regard to lightness and the least obstruction to passage of air-that is to say, they form a rigid connection between the tube C and body A, and also' strengthen the latter, so that it cannot collapse or become broken down by long and hard usea result which is of not infrequent occurrence in this class of pounders.

The lower edges of the plates F are connected by a wire ring, G, for the purpose of enabling them to resist torsional action and other strains incident to use, and also to form a guard which shall prevent the clothes from entering or becoming wedged in the cavities formed by and between the plates. Thus, by means of the plates F and ring G, I not only form a very strong yet light interior stay and re-enforcc for the tube O and body A of the pounder, but also an ei'ectual guard against the entrance of the clothes, and at the same time without in the least obstructing the free passage of air.

The lower portion of tube O is made as large as practicable, and in order to prevent the clothes entering the same I apply a coarse wire-screen, H, thereto, as shown.

In practical use the pounder is forced down upon the clothes immersed in suds. The air contained in the body A and tube C is coinpressed, (since the valve G instantly closes and cuts off its escape in that direction,) and thus a quantity of' water is forced rapidly through the portion of the clothes directly beneath the pounder. The elasticity of the air which permits such compression also enables it to react and assist in forcing out of the chamber of the pounder the water which has entered it, and as the pounder is raised the valve G drops and allows air to enter to supply the partial ICO vacuum in the body A, so that little water is lifted with the pounder.

ln other devices of this class the great objection has been the obstruction to the passage of air, so that the water could not escape quickly, thus adding greatly to the labor of Washing by increasing' the weight to be lifted.

The course'of air entering the pounderis indicated by arrows.

It Will be noted that each of the four chambers into which the plates divide the part A has independent communication with the tubular handle C through openings c, and it results from such relation of parts that if the holes of one chamber should by any means become clogged the air will have free entrance into the other chambers, and hence the pounder Will continue to operate successfully.

rlhe use otl the wooden part Bof the handle is very desirable, since it is less liable to break than tubular metal ones, and when Wet is less slippery, so that it may be held rmly With an easier gripe. The adaptation for attachment and detachment of the handle B is also iinportant, and the location of the air-inlets l as near the body A ot' the pounder as practicable facilitates the easy entrance of air.

The function ofthe enlargement of the tube U may be further stated to be to allow the largest practicable space for reception and compression of air Without unduly enlarging the size or increasing the Weight and cost ot' the pounder.

What l claim is- 1. An atmospheric clothes-pounder having a bell-shaped body, A, the tubular handle G, having perforations in its lower portion,the plates F, which are arranged radially and conform in outline to the space in the upper portion of part A, to which and to said tube their respective outer and inner edges are soldered, and the stay and guard-ring G, which is attached to and connects the lower edges of the plates, all as shown and described, for the purpose specified. Y v

2. In an. atmospheric clothes-pounder, the combination, with the bell-like body A, ofthe tubular handle C, having a spherical enlargement, which rests on and is soldered to the.

top ot' said part A, thereby serving the double function of an air-chamber and a brace, as shown and described, for the purpose specilied.

rlhe above specification ot' my invention signed by me this 12th day of August, 1880.

F. G. POWERS. Vitnesses:

AMos W. HART, SoLoN G. KEMON. 

